Frequently Asked Questions
About The Great Courses and The Great Courses Plus
What is the difference between The Great Courses Plus and The Great Courses?
The Great Courses Plus is a subscription service that gives you access to an extensive library of over 800 courses produced by The Great Courses. You can purchase individual Great Courses in digital formats on this website , or you can subscribe to The Great Courses Plus and get unlimited access. All of your Great Courses purchases are available to watch on The Great Courses Plus website and apps.
What is the Great Courses Plus?
The Great Courses Plus is the streaming home of thousands of hours of engaging courses designed to enrich and improve your life. Academically comprehensive and relentlessly engaging, our courses bring lifelong learners face-to-face with trusted professors and subject matter experts on topics ranging from science and history to philosophy and religion to travel and professional growth. Always ad-free, the Great Courses Plus is the place to experience the pure joy of learning—anytime, anywhere.
How often will you add new content?
Every month, we add two to three brand new courses on The Great Courses Plus. We are also adding classic Great Courses to the Great Courses Plus on a monthly basis.
How does The Great Courses Plus’s free trial work?
Our free trial allows you to access The Great Courses Plus’s entire catalog of streaming courses on your favorite smart TV, streaming tool, or mobile device. Once your free trial ends, your credit card will be billed based on the membership plan you’ve selected. If you’d prefer to cancel, simply visit the My Account page and cancel in a few simple steps. If you cancel during your free trial period, you’ll retain access until that period ends and won’t be billed.
What are the additional benefits of subscribing to The Great Courses Plus?
A paid subscription to The Great Courses Plus includes:
- Special Discount - Receive an additional 20% off all courses purchases
- Access to PDFs of the guidebooks or workbooks
Manage My Account
I signed up for a Membership. How can I cancel my membership?
How you cancel, depends on how you signed up.
Via our website:
- Hover over your name(email) on the top right corner of the page and select "My Account"
- Click "Cancel membership" located under "Membership Plan Management"
Via mobile app for Apple devices:
- Open the Settings icon on the iOS device
- Click on “iTunes and App Store”
- Tap on Apple ID at the top of the screen
- Click “View Apple ID”
- Enter Apple ID password and Sign In
- Scroll down to the “Subscriptions” section
- If you have an active subscription created through the iOS app it will appear under the “Active” section.
- Select "The Great Courses Plus" and cancel.
Via mobile app for Android devices:
- Launch the Google Play Store app.
- Tap Menu
- Click on My Apps or Apps
- Click on Subscriptions and tap on the app of the subscription you’d like to cancel.
Via Roku:
- Highlight the channel on your Roku
- Click the "*" on the remote which is called Options
- Select "Manage Subscription"
How do I update my membership account information?
Via website desktop or laptop:
- Log into your account through the website, hover over your name (email) and select My Account.
Via website on mobile browser:
- Tap Sign In at the top right of the screen and sign in.
- Once signed in, tap your name (email) and select My Account.
The My Account section includes:
- Changing your email address
- Resetting your password
- Updating your payment method
- Viewing Billing and Order history
- Accessing Downloads (previous purchases)
- Managing your devices
Where can I find My Purchases, Downloads, and Order History from The Great Courses?
Your purchases and order history can always be found within the My Account page of this website (outlined above). Additionally, your purchases can be accessed within the menu options of your account located at the top right of your screen on desktop and bottom right option on mobile.
Can I order a membership to the Great Courses Plus as a gift?
Gift subscriptions are now available for purchase. CLICK HERE
What is the cancellation policy for the Great Courses Plus?
You may cancel at anytime. No refunds are provided. You will have access to the content through the end of your billing period. If you cancel within the free trial period, your membership will remain active until the end of your free trial period. For more information, see our Terms of Service.
Am I allowed to show videos to a group?
The Great Courses Plus is for personal/private use only. However, if you looking to share this wonderful learning experience with a group, please contact our customer service team at contactus@thegreatcoursesplus.com.
How do I opt-out of marketing emails from the Great Courses Plus
You may opt-out of marketing emails by setting your email preferences on the "My Account" section of the website. You can reach this page via the menu that appears when you hover over your username in the upper right corner of the website, or under "Settings" if you are on the mobile website. You may also opt-out of marketing emails through the "unsubscribe" link provided at the bottom of any marketing email that you receive from the Great Courses Plus
Billing and Purchasing
Alright, what is a subscription to The Great Courses Plus going to cost me?
You’ve got options! We offer a monthly plan, a quarterly plan, or an annual plan. Every plan offers a free trial, unlimited streaming, and 20% of All Purchases, and it’s easy to cancel at any time. Visit our plans page if you want the details about each plan.
How do I purchase courses on The Great Courses Plus?
All courses and digital transcript books available for purchase can easily be found throughout the website. An option to buy the course can be found on any course page. Also, all active offers and promotions can be accessed through the Buy Courses menu located in the header. Please note, on mobile devices the Buy Courses menu displays only the icon in the header. Digital transcript books may be purchased during checkout of the course or can be purchased directly from the course page of courses you already own.
Can I purchase an individual course without having a subscription?
Absolutely, individual courses are available to anyone for purchase. Active subscribers do however receive an additional 20% discount off all courses purchases.
Can I purchase a digital course as a gift for someone else?
Unfortunately, purchasing a single course as a gift for a friend is not available. However, you can purchase a gift subscription for your friend allowing them unlimited to access to All of the Great Courses content.
How can I review my next billing amount and date?
You can review the next billing date and next billing amount from the "My Account" section on our website. You can reach this page via the menu that appears when you hover over your username in the upper right corner of the website. Your next billing date and amount will appear on this page.
To view your payment history:
- If you purchased a subscription through the mobile app for your iOS device
- Open Settings icon on the iOS device
- Click your name at the top of the screen
- Click “Subscriptions”
- If you have an active subscription it will appear under the "Active" section.
- If you purchased a subscription through the mobile app for your Android device
- Launch the Google Play Store app.
- Tap Menu
- Click on My Apps or Apps
- Click on Subscriptions and tap on the app of the subscription you’d like to view
- If you purchased a subscription through the Roku app
- Go to roku.com and sign into your Roku.com account. Then go to the subscriptions section of your account.
Do I need to pay sales taxes on my purchases?
The Teaching Company collects taxes in: AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, HI, IN, KY, LA, ME, MN, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, OH, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY. Alabama Tax Disclosure statement: Seller has collected the simplified sellers use tax on this transaction(s) and the tax will be remitted on the customer’s behalf to the Alabama Department of Revenue. Seller’s program account number is SSU-R009527647.
Am I required to pay sales tax in states where The Teaching Company does not collect tax?
In certain states where The Teaching Company does not collect or remit sales tax, purchases are not exempt from sales taxes, and purchasers in those states are required to file the requisite sales or use tax returns and directly pay applicable taxes to the states. Additional information may be found on your state’s department of revenue website.
Why do I need a credit card to sign up for a free trial?
A valid credit card is required to ensure you are a real person and to help mitigate piracy during Free Trial Periods. Your card will not be charged as long as you cancel during your Trial Period. Cancelling during a Free Trial will end your membership immediately. You will not be entitled to another free trial if you join again. We advise cancelling at least 24 hours before the trial ends.
Technical
What devices and platforms are supported by The Great Courses?
The Great Courses can be enjoyed on mobile devices, desktop browsers, and TV connected devices through The Great Courses Plus apps and website. For the best experience, we recommend the following platforms. Mobile Devices:
- Android phones and tablets (OS 8 and above) - Android Resource Guide
- iOS phones and tablet (OS 11 and above) - IOS Resource Guide
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Safari
- ROKU - Roku Resource Guide
- Apple TV 4th generation or newer -Apple TV Resource Guide
- FireTV- FireTV Resource Guide
Can I view courses from "My Digital Library" from TheGreatCourses.com through The Great Courses Plus?
Absolutely! The two sites are now one! Customers of The Great Courses now access their purchases through The Great Courses Plus apps and website. You do not need to be a subscribed customer to purchase new courses or view existing purchases. However, current subscribers do receive an additional 20% off all purchases.
What if I had already created accounts for The Great Courses and The Great Courses Plus under different email addresses?
If you have two separate accounts under different emails, you can link them directly under the My Account section of the website. If your two accounts were under the same email address, they are already connected and your password from either account will work.
Does a single membership to the Great Courses Plus work on all of my devices or do I have to pay for multiple memberships - one for each device
You only need to pay for one membership to the Great Courses Plus. Your account will work across all of your devices and computers. The Great Courses Plus will track your viewing history and allow you to switch between devices and pick up watching where you left off.
